Detachable tool handle



June 4, 1940. M. PLGN DETACHABLE TOOL HANDLE Fi'led Jan. 22, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 June4, 1940. 4 v M, P 2,202,863

DETACHABLE TOOL HANDLE Filed Jan. 22, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 az-it izz.

Feb 6 Max P1. 0

June 4, 1940. M. PLON DETACHABLE TOOL HANDLE 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Jan. 22. 1938 Patented June 4, 1940 1 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Application January 22, 1938, Serial No. 186,473 In Germany October 11, 1937 2 Claims.

This invention relates to the art of detachably securing a handle to a tool body, particularly a wooden handle to a tool head such as a hammer, axe or the like.

Most handle tools on the market, such for example as hammers, axes or the like have the head or body thereof provided with an oval or quadrangular opening for the reception of the handle. The wooden handle is usually attached to the head in a most inconvenient manner. The end of the handle is merely in the opening of the tool body and driven therein, being secured on the other side by means of nails, wedges or the like. As is well known, these means of attachment are not durable. Continual new attachment by means of wedges or fitting the handle is necessary according to the use of the tool. Repeated replacement of handles and loss of time in doing so is the result. It is also well known that accidents are often caused where such types of attachments are used, by the tool head flying 01f.

The present invention is designed to obviate these inconveniences in hammers, hatchets, axes and the like. According to one form of the invention the handle is provided with a socket which is attached to the tool head by means of a key of quadrangular, oval or flattened form, connected with the handle socket and which key placed on end with respect to the tool handle, is thrust into a suitable opening in the head and secured therein by a connecting means which holds the handle in the socket.

The connecting means consists preferably of a male part as screw-threaded pin or bolt screwed into a complementary female part or nut. This nut can thereby be shaped similar to the key on the socket and then thrust in the same axial alignment as the latter, but from the other side of the head, into the opening of the tool head, so that the bolt screwed therein rigidly secures all of the parts together.

The handle socket may have the key integrally formed therewith or the two may be connected together by a dovetail connection, the dovetailed members of which are displaceable transversely to the longitudinal direction of the tool head and transverse to the axis of the handle. The attaching bolt extending through all the parts, acts at the same time to secure the parts including the dove-tail attachment together.

An object of the invention is, therefore, to produce a new form of device for readily attaching and detaching handles to tool bodies, but which when assembled provides a rigid, secure connection.

Another object of the invention is to produce such a device which can be used with the standard sizes, forms and shapes of tools, as hammers, hatchets, axes and the like as they now exist and are found on the market.

A further object is to provide a readily detachable yet secure connecting means between a handle and tool body by means of which a number of tools of different sizes may be used with the same handle or vice versa.

Various embodiments of the invention, as Well as detail modifications, are illustrated in the drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a side view of a tack or riveting hammer with a handle attachment according to the invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical cross section on an enlarged scale, through the hammer head and handle of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a cross section of Fig. 1 at right angles to Fig. 2 showing the hammer handle with the attaching bolt;

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of a modification, in which the key part is dovetailed to the socket, parts of the hammer head and handle being broken away;

Fig. 5 is a cross-section of Fig. 4 in line V-V;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged cross-section of the form shown in Figs. 4 and 5 at right angles to Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a side view of another form of the invention as applied to a standard claw-hammer;

Fig. 8 is a vertical cross-section of Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a cross-section of Fig. 7 on line IX-IX, and at right angles to Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a side view of a form of the invention as applied to a standard form of machinists or ball peen hammer;

Fig. 11 is a section of Fig. 10 showing the connecting parts;

Fig. 12 is a side view of a further form of the invention as applied to an axe head or hatchet head;

Fig. 13 is a top view of Fig. 12;

Fig. 14 is a vertical cross-section of an axe and handle showing a still further form of the invention;

Fig. 15 is a top view of part of a riveting hammer head with another form of the invention; and

Fig. 16 is an enlarged vertical cross-section of 5 an'opening 2 in the usual manner extending through the head of the hammer. This opening is of various shapes either round, rectangular or oval. The handle 3 for the hammer which is usually made of wood, instead of being thrust directly into the opening 2 of the hammer head, is in this instance, inserted into a socket 4. The handle 3 has its upper end reduced in cross-section and the reduced end is surrounded by a metal cylinder or sleeve 5. The sleeve is secured in place on the wooden handle by means of the transverse pins 6. It will be noted that the socket 4 is hollowed out at its lower part in such manher that the handle with the sleeve 5 fits snugly into this hollowed portion of the socket 4. Axially extending through the socket is an opening I the purpose of which will be later explained. The upper end of the socket is reduced in crosssection to form a key 8 having the same shape and of the same size as the opening 2 in the hammer head.

The handle 3 in this form of the invention has its upper end in the form of a cylinder, that is, its transverse cross-section is circular. Axially secured into the handle 3 is the pin or bolt 9 provided at its end with screw threads. The pin 9 is fixedly retained in the end of the handle by the same cross-pins 6 which secure the sleeve 5 in place. Cooperating with the threaded pin 9 is a nut II], the upper part of which is fianged. The nut I0 is so shaped and of such size as to snugly fit into the opening 2 in the hammer head.

From this construction it will be seen that it is merely necessary to place the socket 4 into the opening of the hammer head from the lower side thereof, then thrust the wooden handle 3 with the pin 9 thereon into the socket, with the pin 9 extending through the opening 'I of the socket, then place the nut into the opening from the upper side of the hammer head and rotate the handle itself. The rotation of the handle will cause the interengagement of the screw threads on the pin 9 and the nut I0, drawing all the parts firmly together to effect a rigid, yet detachable connection between the handle 3 and the tool head I. The key 8 being of a crosssection reduced as compared with the socket immediately therebelow, provides a shoulder X on the socket 4 which bears firmly against the under surface of the hammer head I due to the tension produced by the screwing of the pin 9 into the nut I0.

In the modification shownin Figs. 4, 5 and 6, the hammer head I with the opening 2 and the handle 3 with the metal sheath or sleeve 5, and screw-threaded pin 9, both held in the handle by the cross pins 6, are identical with the construction shown and described in Figs. 1, 2 and 3.

In this form or" the invention, however, the socket is formed in two parts, a lower part 4' which is hollowed out at its lower end to receive the end of the handle 3 similar to socket 4, and an upper or key part 4". The upper part 4 is secured to the lower part 4 by a dovetailed connection. As shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 6, the dovetailed tenon of the joint is on the key part 4", while the correspondingly shaped mortises of the joint are provided in the lower part 4. The two parts 4 and 4" are assembled together by a lateral movement transverse to the axis of the handle. The assemblage of the parts in this form of the invention is the same as in the manner previously described. The screw-threaded pin 9 again cooperating with the screw threads in the nut III to hold all of the parts together rigidly, yet detachably. The advantage of this form of construction is that by means of the dove-tailed two-part socket, the same handle and socket can be used with a number of tool heads, it being merely necessary to provide key parts 4" of the proper shape so that the key portions thereof snugly and properly fit into the openings in the respective hammer heads. The dovetailed connection in each of the separable parts of the socket are of standard size and should be, so that with one lower socket 4, a number of different upper parts 4", can be used.

In the form of the invention shown in Figs. 7, 8 and 9, there is illustrated how the invention can be adapted to a standard form of claw hammer. The hammer head is shown at I I and as is usual in such tools, has an integrally formed hollow socket I2 thereon. Instead of the wooden handle I3 being merely thrust into this socket and extending through to the upper surface of the hammer head as in the usual manner, the handle in accordance with the present invention, is reduced in cross-section as at I4 so as to form a shoulder as at X. Secured into the reduced end of the handle I3 is a pin I5 which screw threads at its upper end, the transverse pin I6, serving to rigidly hold the pin I5 in the handle I3.

As the handle I3 in this form of the invention, is not of cylindrical cross-section at this end, but is of the usual flattened form, it is impossible to rotate the handle after it is inserted into the usual opening in the hammer head II. To effect the connection in accordance with this invention, therefore, a cap I! is provided for placing over the upper part of the opening in the head II and for bearing on the upper surface thereof. In the cap I! there is a recessed opening I8 for reception of a nut I9 which cooperates with the pin IS in drawing all of the parts secured together, and holds them all in place. If desired, a lock washer 20 may obviously be placed below the nut I9 to prevent undesired loosening of the same. Inasmuch as the nut I9 is located in a recess, this nut is provided with a transverse slot 2| so that the nut itself can be rotated by means of the usual screw driver.

Here again, it will be seen that it is merely necessary to thrust the handle I3 into the socketlike projection I2 on the hammer head II, place the cap I? over the top of the hammer, and screw down the nut I9 on the pin I5 which projects into the opening I8 of cap I'I. Here again, the rigid connection is due to the fact that by the cooperation between the nut I9 and the pin I5, the shoulder X is drawn tight against the lower end of the socket I2 in a manner similar to that previously described in the other forms of the invention.

In Figs. 10 and 11, there is shown a form of I tion, the end of the handle is provided with a screw-threaded pin or bolt 26 held in place in In this the wooden handle by the cross pin 21. form as in the form previously described in Figs.

'7, '8 and 9,a cap 28 'i's'provided ior the upper side of the hammer head of such size and shape as to snugly fit into the opening 23 and yet effectively close all of such opening and bear on the surface of the hammer. This cap is provided with a recessed opening 29 in alignment with the pin 26 in the end of the handle, in which recessed opening a nut 3|] witha cross slot 3| can be placed and screwed down on the threadsof the pin 23 to hold all of the parts rigidly, yet detachably in place. If desired, a lock washer can again be placed under the nut to prevent undesired backward rotation of the same.

In Figs. 12 and 13, there is illustrated a form of the invention as applied to a hatchet or axe head. The head of the tool is shown at32 and is provided with the usual opening 33 extending therethrough for the handle. The wooden handle is indicated at 34 and in this instance, is provided with a thin metal sheath 35 forming a socket. The socket 35 is reduced in cross-section at its upper end 36 to snugly accommodate the similarly or correspondingly reduced cross-section on the wooden handle 34. The wooden handle is provided with the screw-threaded pin 31 and a small cross pin 38 holds the socket 35 and the pin 31 all rigidly in place on the wooden handle 34. The reduced cross section of the socket 35 provides the shoulder X' in this instance, and the operation of the device is the same. The handle 34 with the socket 35 thereon, and carrying the pin 31 is thrust into the opening 33 of the head 32 and a cooperating cap 39 placed in position on the other side of the opening. The cap 39 has a centrally located recess and opening 40 in alignment with the pin 37 so that a nut All can be screwed on to the threads of the pin 3! and draw all of the parts together. The nut M is again provided with the usual slot to accommodate the end of the screw driver.

In Fig. 14, there is illustrated a form of the invention as applied to a hatchet or any other tool in which the handle is of comparatively short length. In this form of the invention the tool head is shown at 42, the wooden handle is shown at 43, and it will be noted that in this instance, it is provided with an axially arranged hole 44 extending throughout the whole length of the wooden handle. The upper end of the handle is provided with a metal socket 45 which is reduced in cross section so as to provide a shoulder X for bearing against one side surface of the tool head 42. The end of the wooden handle 43 is slightly reduced in cross section so as to snugly fit into the socket 45. The upper part of the socket 45 which has been described as reduced in cross section, is indicated at 46 and forms the key for snugly fitting into the opening, in the tool head 42. The upper end 43 of the socket is provided with an axial opening in alignment with the opening 44 in the handle 43. A flanged nut 41 is provided for the other side of the opening in the tool head, and by placing a long screw-threaded pin 48 into the hole M extending through the handle 43, this pin it can be rotated by means of a screw driver cooperating with the slot 49 at its lower end to screw the pin 43 into the nut 4'5. The head of the pin ii! bearing against the end of the handle l3 causes all of the parts to again be rigidly, yet detachably held in place.

In Figs. 15 and 16 is shown a further form of the invention. In this instance, there is a tack or riveting hammer head 33, similar to the head I and having the usual opening iii therein. The handle 52 is provided with a metal sheath or sleeve 53 around and near its upper end so as to provide a reduced section 54 which snugly fits into the opening 5|. In this form of the invention, however, instead of a pin being secured in the wooden handle, there is, in this instance, secured into the wooden handle, an elongated hollow internal screw-threaded socket 55. The socket is axially locked in the cylindrical end of the handle 52 and held in place by the transverse pin 56. The handle with the socket 55 inserted therein is thrust into the opening 5| of the hammer head in the usual manner and held in place by means of a screw 5'! having a circular head of such diameter as to fully and adequately cover the opening 5! in the hammer head. The opening 35 is usually of a greater size along the longitudinal axis of the hammer head than in its other direction, so as, to be either oval or quadralateral in shape. Merely screwing the screw 51 into the socket 55 draws all of the parts together. If it is desired to prevent a separation of the parts 5? and 55, a pin such as that shown at 58 can be driven through the flanged head of the screw 5?, into the wood to the end of the handle. It is obvious that lock washers such as shown at 23 in Fig. 9, can be used under any of the nuts shown, to prevent the loosening of a nut. It will also be observed that in each instance, the hammer head bears against a shoulder provided on or near the end of the handle against which, due to the screw-threaded connecting means, the head is firmly pressed.

While several forms of the invention have been described, it is intended to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims, as it is obvious that once the broad features of the invention are understood, many modifications and adaptations will readily occur to those skilled in the art, all falling within the scope of the invention here disclosed.

What is claimed is:

1. In a tool the combination of a metal tool head having an opening therethrough for a handle, a two-part handle socket the upper end'of the upper part of which is provided with a key snugly fitting in the opening in the body and the lower end of which is provided with a transversely positioned dovetailed tenon, the lower part of the socket having its upper surface provided with a transversely positioned re-entrant mortise shaped to snugly receive the tenon on the upper part and which lower part of thesocket has its lower end shaped to receive the upper end of the handle, a wooden handle inserted in to the socket, a screw-threaded pin secured to the handle and extending freely through both parts of the socket and into the opening of the tool head, and complementary screw-threaded means snugly fitting into the opening in the head on the side opposite to that occupied by the key and cooperating with the pin to form the sole means for securing all of the parts together.

2. In a tool the combination of a metal tool head having an opening therein for a handle, which opening is transverse to the longitudinal axis of the tool head, a handle for the tool head, said handle being provided with a shoulder at its upper end whereby the part of the handle beyond the shoulder forms a key which may be snugly inserted into the opening in the metal tool head with the shoulder abutting against the lower surface of the head, and complementary screw-threaded male and female connecting members, one of which members is secured to the handle on the longitudinal axis thereof and extends beyond the key and. the other of which members fits snugly in the opening in the tool head opposite to the key on the end of the handle and which latter member is internally screwthreaded and is provided with a flange abutting the upper surface of the head to 'form the sole means for rigidly but detachably uniting all of the parts together by the interengagement of the screw threads.

MAX PLGN. 

